Canadian Funding Corp. Reviews CMHC Statistics

Posted by Moishe Alexander

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, along with Stéphanie Vallée, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Quebec and Member of the National Assembly for Gatineau, on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, officially opened today the two housing projects of the La Pêche Development Corporation, which provide 24 new affordable housing units for semi-independent seniors. This represents an investment of nearly $3.5 million on the part of public and sector partners for the construction of these units.

The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, and the Government of Quebec, under the AccèsLogis program of the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), contributed a total amount of nearly $1.5 million, while partners and the Municipality of La Pêche invested nearly $2 million. Of this sum, more than $1.3 million will be provided by the Municipality of La Pêche in the form of a capitalized tax rebate. Canada’s Economic Action Plan was put in place to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. The federal and provincial governments will invest, on a 50:50 cost-shared basis, $538 million in Quebec under the Affordable Housing Initiative Program Extension Agreement.

“Our government is committed to giving a hand-up to the people of Quebec during these tough economic times,” said Minister Cannon. “Through projects like these, Year 2 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan will continue to create jobs, stimulate communities in all corners of the country and support Canadian workers and families.”

“The opening of these two establishments is excellent news and demonstrates the attention that our government is giving to the seniors of Quebec. Thanks to the combined efforts of the different partners that contributed to this mobilizing project, 24 households can now benefit from safe, quality housing that meets their needs, at an affordable cost,” said MNA Stéphanie Vallée, in the presence of Robert Bussière, Mayor of La Pêche and Chair of the Board of Directors of the La Pêche Development Corporation, and community partners.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $400 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

Twelve tenants of these two housing projects can benefit from the SHQ’s Rent Supplement program, which provides financial assistance to low-income individuals who would otherwise have to spend more than 25 per cent of their income on housing. The rent supplements provided will represent, over a five-year period, a total of nearly $183,350 in financial assistance, including $165,000 from the SHQ and more than $18,350 from the Municipality of La Pêche.

Since 2003, 980 community housing units have been, or are being, developed in the Outaouais region, including 82 in the constituency of Gatineau, representing total investments of nearly $114 million by the Government of Quebec.

Posted by Moishe Alexander

The Government of Canada announced today that the Rural Municipality of Hanover, has been approved for an infrastructure loan as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

The announcement was made by the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Reeve Stan Toews, elected head of the Rural Municipality of Hanover.

The Rural Municipality of Hanover has been approved for a $3,000,000 low-cost loan from CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP), for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility for the community of Mitchell. The new facility has been designed to allow the community’s population to grow to 4,000 persons.

“Our Government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said Minister Toews. “This program is opening the door for municipalities of all sizes to meet their housing-related infrastructure needs and create jobs. It’s good news not only for Hanover, but also for Manitoba.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides up to $2 billion in direct low-cost loans to municipalities, over two years, for housing-related infrastructure projects through the MILP. These low cost loans can also be used by municipalities to fund their contribution for cost-shared federal infrastructure programming.

“The Rural Municipality of Hanover is pleased to secure low interest long-term funding from the Federal Government through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to assist the community of Mitchell in the construction of their new lagoon”, Reeve Stan Toews said. “This facility will allow the community to see substantial growth over the next two decades and provides an interest rate that will result in the community saving approximately $500,000 over the next 15 years in interest costs.”

Eligible projects include infrastructure related to housing services such as water, power generation and waste services, as well as local transportation infrastructure within and into residential areas, such as roads, sidewalks, lighting and green space.

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

Canadian Funding Corp (CFC) presents CMHC update from June 4, 2009.

Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Jim Bradley, MPP for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Niagara Regional Chair Peter Partington, and St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan made the announcement today.

“The Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to help those at risk of becoming homeless,” said MP Rick Dykstra. “We are proud to support community efforts that help find local solutions to local problems. Through this investment, the Gateway Residential and Community Support Services and Mainstream Services, will provide safe and supportive housing to people with special needs, and help them turn a new page in their lives.”

The project, sponsored by Gateway Residential and Community Support Services of Niagara and Mainstream: An Unsheltered Workshop, will provide nine units of supportive housing for vulnerable persons in St. Catharines. Today’s federal and provincial allocation will be complemented by $125,850 in municipal financial incentives.

“This new 9-unit supportive housing development in downtown St. Catharines is another great example of partnership in action,” said Regional Chair Partington. “Increasing access to supportive housing will assist some of Niagara’s most vulnerable citizens. I am proud that Niagara Region is able to continue its legacy of Building Communities, Building Lives.”

“This project represents what can be achieved by government and community-based agencies when we work together,” said Mayor Brian McMullan. “As a result of this collaborative effort, some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens will have a safe and affordable home with the specialized supports they require — something they would not have had otherwise.”

“Gateway & Mainstream are proud to be entering into a partnership that will create nine new units of affordable supportive housing in downtown St. Catharines,” said Gateway Executive Director John Osczypko.

The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for 20,000 households in Ontario.